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(-No ModeL) G. M. GUILD. PIANO TUNING PIN.

Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. GUILD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO U. E. GUILD, OF SAME PLACE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,674, dated December 17, 1889.

I Application filed October 19, 1888. Serial No. 288,528. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. GUILD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringing and Tuning Devices for Upright Pianos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is'a front View of portions of the string-frame, the sounding-board, and the bridge of an upright piano, with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a back view of a portion of the string-frame; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the string-frame, the sounding-board, and bridge, and portions of the case of an upright piano provided with my invention. Fig. 4 is a back view of the device for creating, in connection with a screw applied thereto and to the bridge, a backward draft of the strings on the bridge. Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the straining-pins. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the string-supporters. Fig. 7 is a top view of the bridge in common use, showing the way the bearin g of the strings on the bridge is elfected.

The nature of my invention is defined in the claims hereinafter presented.

In the drawings, A denotes the string-frame of the piano, arranged in the case B, as shown, with a space 0 in rear of that portion of the string-frame in which the strainingpins D are arranged, so that access can be had to the rear ends of thesaid straining-pins through an opening having a door E, hinged to the back of the case at a, as shown. The straining-pins D, which are screw-threaded and screwed through the frame, as shown, are each provided on their rear ends with a cylindrical journal I), on which is arranged a string-supporter F, it being represented as formed with a cylindrical body provided with holes 0, extending through it diametrically and to receive the journal b of the straining-pins, as represented. Proj ectin gfrom the string-supporter is a short spindle (I, provided with a hole e to receive the string, and about the said spindle the string is coiled several turns before the supporter is placed on the journal I) of the straining-pin. In placing the sup-- 5 5 porter on the journal of the straining-pin the spindle of the supporter is introduced between guide-pins p p, fastened to and proj ecting from the frame, which serve to prevent the supporter from turning with the straining-pin.

The strings G are arranged about the hitchpins H in the usual manner, and are extended through holes I in the frame, provided with flaring mouths, and through and around the spindles of the supporters, as represented. By revolving the straining-pins by means of a tuning-wrench in the direction to move the string-supporters away from the plate the strings will be drawn so as to bear firmly on the string bearing of the frame and on the rounded edge of the holes I, and by means of the holes 0 in the body of the stringsupporters each supporter can be arranged on the journal Z) of the pins, so as to stand, when the strings are tuned, at or about an equal distance from the back of the plate, so that the prismatic part of the pins on the front of the plate will project about equally therefrom and will present to the eye a uniform appearance.

To the bridge K, I apply by means of screws m a series of bearers L, which are arranged with and upon the strings, as represented, to bearthereon,the screws m passing through the bearers and into the bridge, and by turning said screws the bearers will cause the strings to bear solidly against the face of the bridge. Each bearer is rectangular in shape, looking at it from the front or from the rear, and from its back side extend two ribs f g and one or more projections 7;. The ribs bear on a strip of leather or other suitable material, which rests on the strings and on the inclined surface i of the bridge, and the projections h 5 bear against the bottom of the groove 70, formed in the bridge, as shown. The bearer is provided wit-h a swell Zon its back surface, which bears the strings firmly against the bridge and prevents them from jarring when struck by the hammers. Thus it will be seen thatby my improvements I produce simple and effective means for stringing and tuning pianos, by which I do away with agraffes, pressure-bars, and bridge-pins and obtain a solid bearing of the strings on the string-bearing of the frame and on the bridge, and by providing the upper part of the case with a chamber back of the plate access can readily be had to the string-supporters for adjustmentof them, and also for the replacing of the strings when required.

By dispensing with agratfes,.pressure-bars, and bridge-pins I reduce the cost of manufacture of the piano, and also remove parts which are a constant source of annoyance, it being estimated that the bridge-pins alone produce at the least calculation seventy-five )er cent. of all the buzzin and 'arrin sounds inasmuch as, owing to the construction of the bridge and. the arrangement of the strings thereon, which I is shown in Fig. 7, the draft of the strings on the pins causes the bridge to split, the pins to work loose, and consequently the strings bearing against them to be put out of tune, whereas by my improvements the strings are provided with solid bearings, there being nothing to work loose, and the arrangement of the parts is such that ready access can be had to them when desired. Having described my invention, what I claim is In an upright piano, the string-frame provided with holes having flaring mouths to receive the strings, in'coinbination with the strainii'ig-pins, screw-threaded and provided with journals, and havin the transverse holes for said journals and the spindles for the strings, the string-supporters arranged on the said journals, the strings, the bridge, the bearers, and the screws by which they are secured to the bridge to cause the strings to bear thereon, and the hitch-pins of the frame, all substantially as shown and set forth.

2. In an upright piano, the straining-pins, each screw-threaded and provided with a j ou rnal, and the string-supporter pivoted on said journal, in combination with the string-frame having holes with flaring mouths and hitchpins to receive the strings and guide-pins for the supporters, the said strings, the bridge, the bearers, and screws by which the strings are caused to bear on the bridge, all substantially as shown and set forth.

3. In an upright piano, the bearers, each provided with ribs and one or more projections, in combination with the bridge and the screw for connecting it, the bearer thereto, the string-frame having holes with flaring mouths and hitch-pins for the strings and guide-pins for the supporters, the strings, the straining-pins, each screw-threaded and provided with a journal, and the string-supporters, each arranged on the journal of a straining-pin, and all being substantially as shown and set forth.

4:. In an upright piano, the string-supporters, each having holes in its body, arranged therein, as shown, to receive the journal of the straining-pin and provided with a spindle having a hole to receive the end of the string, in combination with the strainingpins, screwthreaded and provided with a journal, the string-frame having holes with flaring mouths and hitch-pins for the strings and guide-pins for the stririg-supporters, the strings, the bridge, the bearers, and screws, all substantially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. M. GUILD.

XVitnesses:

S. N. PIPER, C. F. DANIELS. 

